A Practical Handbook for the Actor Paperback – Unabridged, April 12, 1986

I used this book to teach a beginning acting class at our community college. It is an excellent introduction to the craft. The book gives clear examples of selecting an action that create clear and exciting choices for the actor. Rather than focusing on emotional states such as "you're angry or you're happy," the text shows how to allow emotional truth to come from the moment while focusing on what the character is doing. The examples in the book are practical and relate well to the craft. I particularly appreciated that an action should have a test in the other character. So rather that an character delivering a letter with an action "to deliver" that is over without fanfare, a more exciting action would be "to please my boss so I'll get a promotion." The character still delivers a letter, but with a more dynamic action that is interesting to watch. The book is short. I covered the material in our film acting and stage acting units in about eight classes. It's short, sweet & to the point. I recommend it as a great review for experienced actors and as a wonderful introduction to beginning actors. Enjoy!

I truly enjoyed this beauty, it packs a lot of tips, wisdom, advice, etc... within an seemingly small text. Of course, you should also pay close attention to your other resources (i.e. your instincts, prior training) but this is great if you can't get to certain resources, or pay for this, whatever. As many other reviewers has mentioned this book does break down constant techniques and turn them from complicated to understandable. I'm relatively new to the "acting realm" mainly because I'm just now getting back into auditions, monologues and what accompanies that. I'm more of the jack-of-all-trades kind of girl, because I love to write, create music, sing, produce, direct, and of course acting, but through it all when I wasn't getting any auditions, blah, blah I ended up just sliding away from acting, but still having that same love for it. I needed something else quick, that I could afford and could keep with me on regular while learning more than what I originally knew with having some sensible tips on issue I was suffering on. This book was it, I suggest you read it, because it'll definitely come in high regard.

This book is great for the budding actor or student interested in basic acting craft. It s a great reference for actors who have lost themselves in their own toolbox

I can only review it as as an aspiring actor in his 30s who is just starting to explore acting techniques, this book is a good starter, offering brief, simple, easy to understand, practical step by step techniques to break down scenes and to perform. It is very well written, easy to read, and serves the purpose as a quick practical handbook. I enjoyed reading it, and will surely be using it as a small reference book again and again. I wish it could be more expanded, longer, or could include more tips and advice. But I guess aspiring actors will have to refer to many other books to gain more knowledge on various other techniques and styles to build our foundation, help us push further. I highly recommend this book. But I'm certainly getting a few other ones as well to broaden my scope.

This was a staple 20 years ago when I was studying acting in college, and it is still used today. This is a concise, easy to understand and follow, and, yes, PRACTICAL, book for any and everyone just starting out or needing a reminder after an 8-year hiatus from the stage. ;)

As a university student of Fine Arts, this book was assigned to me by my acting professor. As soon as I began working from it, this book went from a textbook, to. Staple of my collection almost instantly. I went from a supporting actor that few audience members remembered, to the president and director of our student theatre organization, and this book, in large part, is to thank for that. It walks you through explanations of acting terms and devices that are easy for anyone to understand, and well as some history of the development of acting and theatre. It's a very easy, yet comprehensive read that is guaranteed to boost your performances to new heights. I would very highly recommend this book to both aspiring and professional actors alike. This book has something valuable to teach anyone who is willing to read it.

Don't be fooled that this is 40 years old, with its badly dated cover, and that it's barely 100 pages. It's the exact distillation of what it intends to get through to you -- Aesthetic expression by way of practical craftsmanship. Hence, Practical Aesthetics.Toss all the pretentious navel-gazing nonsense and read this to begin your journey to a workmanlike and PRACTICAL approach of being an actor. You have to put in the work. But it's time not wasted and you'll see the results in real time. This is where to start. Give it a chance and time, and you won't look back.

This book was just what I needed. I am just starting out with learning the fundamentals of acting and this book really helps with the suggested tools and techniques. I really like how it explains things in a way that makes anyone at any level understand the principles of acting. I’m excited to refine my craft and grow more!